Reading: 1 Kings 3
Today I was reading about Solomon. In this passage, Solomon had gone to Gibeon while the temple of the Lord was being built. While he was in Gibeon, which was the great high place, he offered a thousand burnt offerings. (vs. 4) As I thought of this, I’m always grateful for the THE sacrificial lamb, Jesus, who made a way for ALL of us to come to the Father. Without this sacrifice, we would still not know this God of the Jews, nor would we have hope, as we do today.
Solomon, had a dream while in Gibeon, and in the dream the Lord said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” (vs. 5) As I sat thinking about this, I thought here is a king that has already been blessed because of his father David. He is in the process of building his own house, the house of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. God had protected him and raised him to a position of power and now the Lord was asking what shall I give you?
Solomon answers in a way that pleases the Lord. He does not ask for anything for himself, but instead ask for “an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (vs. 9) Solomon’s greatest concerns was of that of God’s people. He had been placed as king and ruler over them, but his desire was to rule well, to rule with understanding, knowing good and evil.
Sadly, we are in a time where great leaders are few and far between. Yet Solomon is an example of a good leader. A person that was more concerned with the people he was leading, instead of himself. Jesus too, showed how leadership works, by laying down his life for His people. He knew the cost of what He had to do, but He also knew it was worth it. He didn’t have to die, but He chose to. That is the selfless love of our Savior.
I love the response of God to Solomon, because he asked for an understanding heart to judge God’s children, God graciously gave him more than he asked for. He also gave Solomon both riches and honor. Solomon was to be set apart from any king that ever was and ever will be. Solomon’s rule was known far and wide. People “feared him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.” (vs. 28)
Our Father in heaven wants to bless His children, because He is love. He loves us and desires what is good for us. Paul writes, ‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.’ (Ephesians 3:20-21) Yes, we serve an exceedingly abundant kind of God, who gives more than we can think or ask for? Often, we limit God and what He wants to do, nevertheless I’m so thankful that often He will give us more than we ask.